Atacama Desert

Atacama Desert
Destination360.com

The Atacama Desert Chile has the title of being the driest desert in the world with parts of the desert having not seen any rainfall since records began. On average, the South America desert sees as little as 1 cm of rainfall a year and supports next to no vegetation. However, this is a diverse and fascinating geographical region and is used by NASA to test their lunar and Mars exploration vehicles. This South America desert is set amongst a rich cultural heritage where ancient remnants of indigenous human habitation are reflected by human and animal figures that have been carved out on barren hillsides.

Unexpectedly, at points the arid Atacama Desert nestles alongside lagoons, springs and rich farmland busy with Atacama Desert animals such as grazing llamas and alpaca’s. This part of Chile also contains the world’s largest open copper mine at Chuquicamata. The rich copper and mineral deposits led to a huge natural supply of sodium nitrate (saltpeter). While the supply has long since been exhausted, the desert is littered with abandoned mining towns. The Atacama Desert Chile sits at one end of neighboring Bolivia’s vast salt plain of Salar de Uyuni, the world’s largest salt flat. Traveling across the sparkling salt crystals will take you into Bolivia via volcanoes and pristine lakes. 4x4 trips usually take 3 days.

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